Diving the South Side – Part 3

O.k. I just have to give everyone more on the diving on the South Side during my last trip. We all decided to try Angel City and were very glad we did. Easy entry and went out to the reef and down the wall to cross over the sandy bottom to the second reef. There we turned left and started with a really super great dive. We saw many so many schools of fish on top of the reef it was amazing. Green moray eels and spotted morays galore. Then there were culebra snappers, lane snappers, yellowmouth and dog snappers all over the reef and some quite large. Schools of Creole fish were abundant. A southern ray swam by us and we just floated there taking it all in. Truly a wonderful experience with some many types of fish to see, you didn’t even have to move, the fish came right by you! I can’t wait to go back there again and again and again. Vis was excellent there as well. I think the second reef is better than the first reef.

Another place we went to was Fish Hut South, very nice dive, lots of soft corals and vibrant colors. Green Morays, sea turtles and horseyed jacks with some nice sized tiger groupers waited for us there to entertain. The jacks are fun to watch dart in and out.

Vista Blue ended up being a double site dive due to the fact that when we got to the reef and descended we had a bit of current going so we just kept going and going till we wanted to end the dive, proceeded into the shore at an angle with no probles and found we had seen Vista Blue and Sweet Dreams. My hubby took off his gear and walked back to get our truck while Brandon and I waited and watched the fish in the shallows. It was a good dive and that is what is great about Bonaire, most of the time if there is a current and you don’t want to really go against it back, you can just get out almost anywhere further down as there are plenty of exit points on the south side. We saw this huge baitball of mackeral scad and it was something to see some tarpon waiting to stike with a couple of barracuda who would dart right up the middle, it would split then reunite and this went on for quite a while. Jacks even got in on the action as well. The tarpon and barracuda seemed to herding them in teamwork then each took turns swooping in and out. We saw both an eagle ray and southern ray with a couple of turtles in the shallows going in. Lots of eels and the usual tropical fish of all types here as well.

The Lake is always fun, but go to your left when going there, much better that direction in my opinion. Lots of grouper, margates, moray eels and some really big fish for sure.

Tori’s Reef was just super! So many varieties of fish, I can’t name them all, but saw southern rays as well. Really nice dive.

Lighthouse Point was a dive my husband and son together. This dive is in my backyard so to speak and we never have gone as sometimes there can be a wicked current there, but this time of year (August), there wasn’t any and they saw some turtles, lots of eels of all kinds and lots of fish I am told. They said vis was good as well. Maybe next time, I will try it. Barracuda were abundant as well.

I forgot to mention before that we did not have any problems with crime when diving or at our place. When diving, we rolled the windows down, only left a water bottle, old towel in truck, nothing else. I wear glasses, but just took a pair of cheap sunglasses which I don’t care if they get stolen and put them in the glovebox. I keep a spare at home in case I need to have backup on sunglasses. Going out to eat in the evenings had no problems either. I did lock up my car at night wherever I went. So, all and all was a safe and super duper trip!

conditions can vary quite a bit on southern dives - but were as good as i've seen them this sept

nice report - thanks;)

Hi Debbie,
Great trip reports - you should be a writer!
I feel as though I was there with you.
Thanks for sharing. Hi to your family from me & Les.
Judy

Hey Judy, Thanks for the kudos! Say Hi to Les from all of us too! Can't wait to see you guys in February! Debbie

hi debbie, mary and i have done lots of dives at lighthouse and only had a problem with a current or surge once. we've seen some great stuff there. we'll be back in the water there this thursday. i've noticed bigger changes in dive conditions between lighthouse beach and south of pink beach. we've driven past some nice sites thinking that we'll dive vista blue or margate only to find the surf or current to strong to make a good entry...then we end up driving back toward the house and diving at the lake or angel city.

Hi Pat, I agree with you during the winter months with what you're saying. That's why it was so great to be able to get to all the south sites we wanted to get to this last trip. My Brandon, is only 10 and he had no problem with entry at any of the south sites. You and Mary gotta try Fish Hut South when you go, it was great! No currents there and very easy entry. Now, Vista Blue was calm as well, we didn't feel the current till we dropped down the reef wall and we knew right away it was to be a "drift" dive so to speak, but it was pretty easy to just angle in when we wanted to ascend. Came out just at end of Sweet Dreams. Was the only current we found the whole time. Hope you and Mary have a great time diving! Let me know how it was. I always enjoy hearing about what sites are good certain times of the year. We are going back in November and I can't wait to see what sites are good that time of year. Tell Mary I said Hi and look forward to seeing you guys in February.